Artsmark Award!

Staff and pupils at Larkspur are celebrating their success in receiving the Artsmark Award.  A fabulous glass sculpture was presented to staff at Beamish Museum in recognition of the fantastic arts experiences the pupils of Larkspur receive.  We were awarded silver and strive to continue to develop our arts opportunities further to achieve Artsmark Gold.

Art Appreciation Day

On 31st January our pupils and staff enjoyed a creative 'Art Appreciation Day'.  Classes were submerged into a host of art activities relating to an art movement and famous artist.  Links were also made with T4W via the text mapping of Artist Biographies to develop children's knowledge of the artist and their work.

Growing Roots - Linking with the Community through Art

Take a look at our visit to Gateshead College.  Our school council are currently working with two students in the design of a digital image upgrade our rather tatty school bunker.

Art and Design at Larkspur

Here at Larkspur we offer our pupils a high quality arts and design education that aims to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.

Children receive regular art and design sessions across the primary age phases.  As our pupils progress they are encouraged to think more critically about how art and design shapes our history exploring the art of different cultures, countries and eras.

Our carefully designed art and design curriculum introduces our pupils to a variety of artists, sculptors, craftspeople, with each year group designated a focus artist and movement.

In addition to class based art and design sessions, we regularly plan and deliver whole school arts projects to bring together skills of staff and pupils developing a shared appreciation and enjoyment of art and design.

Current Art and Design Developments

• We are currently working towards Artsmark Gold, a nationally recognised achievement for the quality of provision for the arts in school.  As part of the application we are exploring ways to establish stronger links with our local community.  Visits to art galleries, museums, live performances, local care homes, primary and secondary schools, Gateshead Art College, visiting artists have been organised with a push to strengthen community links, develop staff and pupils skills, communication and creativity.  The 'Roots' project is well underway with lots of new relationships being forged and pupils exposure to arts in the local community strengthened.
• Our School Council are currently working with two art students in the design and creation of a computerised abstract mural to brighten up our school bunker.
• During the Autumn term of staff developed their own skills in print making during a staff training session.  Pupils are now benefitting from their new skills in their own art sessions.